Wednesday, November 28, 2012

For the last time this year, self-publishing guru Lyn Horner returns for her fourth series on how to embed book covers and create table of contents for Amazon publishing. Lyn has had resounding success in self-publishing on Amazon.

Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom with us, Lyn!

Amazon requires a book cover to
be uploaded twice, once for the marketing image, the one customers see when
they shop on Amazon. The other image is the internal one readers see when they
open a Kindle book on their reading device. There is a specific place in the
KDP uploading process where you add the marketing image, but the internal cover
image must be embedded in your book file.

There are various ways to embed
the internal cover image. You will find numerous discussions on this topic on
the Amazon KDP support pages. Here’s one you might find helpful.It’s a long post, but there is a
section about including a cover image. Be aware I have not tried this author’s
method, so I can’t guarantee it.

More reading: If you haven’t
done so, please download Amazon’s Kindle Publishing Guidelines. Open the pdf file and go to page 13. There you will find Cover Image Guidelines. Read this section carefully. If you have trouble
understanding the technical jargon, as I do, you may need to enlist a friend or
relative with html experience.

As you know, I employed
Kindlegen and the Kindle Previewer to perfect my text formatting. Each time I
ran my book through Kindlegen, it converted the html file into a mobi file (a format
used for ebooks) but with a warning: “No cover specified.” I had to embed the
cover before I could look at my book on the Kindle Previewer.

The Amazon Kindle Publishing Guidelines
state, “Define covers in the OPF file . . .” What’s an OPF file? From my son, I
learned it’s an “open package format” file which tells Kindlegen where to find all
parts of a book, including the cover. Since I had no idea how to create an .OPF,
my computer savvy offspring did the job, using html coding that’s way beyond me.

(FYI, Mobipocket Creator can be
used to create mobi files, per discussions on Amazon’s message boards. This app
is available on the internet. I think it’s free. I’ve also read that it can be
a bit persnickety.)

Once the OPF file is in place, Kindlegen
will tell you your mobi file is complete. Great, but you’re not done yet. You
still need to create a table of contents (TOC), two actually. The first is an
HTML TOC. This the table of contents readers see in the front matter of a book.
It allows them to jump to whatever chapter they wish. You need to use
hyperlinks to set up the HTML TOC.

First, use a page break to
insert a blank page after your title page. Title this page Table of Contents, then
list your chapters, including the prologue and/or epilogue if you have one. I
like to bold the chapter titles and increase line spacing (do this under
Paragraph in your Format menu.) Next, highlight the first chapter in your list,
click the hyperlink icon on your toolbar, then go to your html book file. (You
need your chapters to be separate for this, not saved as one big book file.) Click on the corresponding chapter in
your file and hit Okay. Go back to your TOC page and try the link. It should
take you to the chapter. Do the same for every chapter, the cover, title page,
dedication page if you include one, and any other extra features. You have now
created your html Table of Contents.

Next, you need to set up a
Logical TOC (NCX) for easy navigation through your book. Read page 14-15 in the
Amazon Kindle Publishing Guidelines for an explanation of how the NCX TOC works
and why it’s necessary. Amazon has included an example of how to set up an NCX
in html code. I won’t try to explain it here because it’s one of those tech subjects
that flies over my head. Again, if you are unfamiliar with html code, you will
need help with this.

NOTE: Both TOCs must be included
in your OPF master file. Once your OPF is complete, you are ready to upload to
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.

I’m sorry this has gotten so
technical. There are quicker, easier ways to publish your book on Amazon, but
this is the method I stick to because I want to be sure my books are well
formatted and easy to read. In other words, I want them to be as professional
as I can possibly make them.

That’s it for now. I’ll be back
in 2013, providing the ladies of As We Were Saying want me here. At that time
I’ll go into copyright, royalties and book promotion. Until then, enjoy the
holidays and keep writing!

Of course we'd love to have Lyn back in 2013! Thanks so much for stopping by and we hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! For more helpful tips on self-publishing, check back in January for more from Lyn Horner!

Monday, November 26, 2012

Yes, we know Thanksgiving is over, but there's still one more week left in November, and another GFW Writer, Flo Stanton, shares her Thanksgiving memories.

What is your favorite childhood memory about Thanksgiving? The hunger-producing smells of a luscious, will it ever be ready?, dinner cooking! Nothin' better.

Did you and your family/friends cook the traditional Thanksgiving turkey, or did they do something different?We cooked the traditional Thanksgiving dinner without exception.What’s your favorite thing about Thanksgiving and/or Autumn? Sapphire blue skies, crisp mountain air, majestic colors and in days of old, the quintessential smell of burning leaves. What did you do for Thanksgiving this year? My family and I joined my sister and her family at the Drexel dining room table of my childhood. The fun-loving memories of my parents, grandparents and nine siblings gathered at that table are blessings in abundance.

Last, and most importantly, please share one of your favorite or memorable recipes for Thanksgiving!No recipe. Just several long distance phone calls asking my Mom how to make her must have sage, white bread dressing/stuffing for my first Thanksgiving married. Thanks for sharing with us, Flo!We hope everyone can come back on Wednesday for Lyn Horner's last series post of the year on Self-Publishing. See you then!

One of the favorite things we ever did was ride the Segways
in Austin the Thanksgiving I was working there.I wanted to do something other than just walk inside of the capitol’s dome
downtown or go have nachos at the Oasis on Lake Travis with you.So we rode the Segways, and it was a
fun time indeed.

Over the years, I had seen the Segway “vehicle” on TV, but I
had never seen or rode one.I
remember talking to the place in Austin that gave the Segway tours of downtown
and asking questions about them. I asked if they were easy to ride, how hard it
was to balance them, and if teenagers like you would enjoy the ride.Since the answers I got were good, I
made our reservations for the tour.

That Thanksgiving was a bit hectic.I came home to Fort Worth, and it was
my turn to have everyone over; so I was busy getting the smoker ready for the
turkey and the ham.We had
everyone over, and you two spent the night.We got up the day after Thanksgiving and drove to Austin and
left our stuff at the extended stay place.The next stop was downtown and the
Segways.

We parked on the street, and we walked into the shop and
gazed at the odd-looking devices, which looked like an old fashioned pogo stick
with two large wheels on the bottom.We checked in and got trained on how to run them.Then we departed for our short
tour of downtown Austin that cool and cloudy day.

We started down the street in a line; there were around
eight of us in total and a guide.We quickly got used to driving them and how they steered.It became a very easy and
natural thing to do, like riding a bike or driving a car.None of us wrecked or hit something,
which was good.

Over the next couple of hours, we road down by the Colorado
River and the streets of the southern part of downtown and went by the State
capitol building.We snaked up and
down the little hills and wound our way back to the starting point where we
reluctantly parked our two-wheeled steeds.

After our ride, we ate lunch at the Texas Chili Parlor,
which unfortunately was not so good, and toured the inside of the capitol.Of course, we went to a store by UT to
look at T-shirts and saw the football stadium, too.It was a fun day in more than one way, one grey and cold but
filled with the warmth generated by the fire of being together and having a
good time.

And so it was that day and weekend.On Sunday, I drove you to Austin’s
Bergstrom airport to fly back to Love Field, home, and your waiting schoolwork.
And on Monday, I went back to work there in Austin.

That was one of the most fun weekends I had with you two
after you were grown.Riding the Segways
was a segue in life because I started to realize more and more that
you both were no longer little kids.In that way, driving the Segways that day was like driving down a new
road in the way I saw you two: a new highway of our lives that we were driving
down, still together, even today.

Thanks for sharing, Jeff! Keep checking back with us every day for more Thanksgiving Memories from GFW Writers!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Today Greater Ft Worth Writer member Ruby Johnson shares her favorite memories of Thanksgiving, and special treats, too! Ruby is Treasurer of GFWW and the blog coordinator. She's also a member of RWA and Sisters in Crime.

What is your favorite childhood memory about Thanksgiving?

My childhood memories are of my mother. She seemed to cook for days. Her menu
consisted of oyster stew, pork roast, prime rib, and turkey with dressing and
vegetables. Pies: apple, lemon, coconut, pecan. Cakes: Pound, Japanese fruit
cake, and pecan cake. Holidays were the only time we ate sweets so it was a
real treat.

After I married, my family spent most Thanksgivings with my in-laws.
Everyone brought a dish and my mother-in-law cooked the turkey. My
sister-in-law is not much of a cook and she was given the task of making a
salad and the dressing to go with turkey. One year she decided to vary her
recipe from the one on the back of the package of bread crumbs by making oyster
dressing. Oyster dressing requires fresh oysters but she used smoked ones. The
result was the worst dressing I have ever tasted. The sound of five grandchildren
running and playing, men laughing,
drinking beer,and watching
football on TV echoed through the house. It was a happy time to gather with
family. After dinner (usually by 2pm), we walked on the beach before making the
long trek home.

Now, I spend Thanksgiving either in N.C. or Texas. Our menus are a lot
different from those of my mother. We don’t prepare the feasts that she did. Turkey,
dressing, casseroles, vegetables, wine and dessert make up the menu. But we do have
lots of hors’d’oeuvres before we eat Thanksgiving Dinner. Our
family is much smaller these days because we’ve lost many members and live in
different parts of the country.However, the immediate family see each other at Thanksgiving or
Christmas. It’s a time to share what’s happening in our lives and to be
thankful that we can gather with each other one more year. This year I’ll
celebrate Thanksgiving in N.C with my two daughters, two grandchildren, and their family.

Autumn brings
cooler weather after the hot summers here in Texas. In the N.C. Mountains the
fall colors of leaves in red, orange, rust and yellow, mixed with the green of
firs are just gorgeous. It makes one aware of the change of the season and
God’s hand in providing beauty in our lives. For me Thanksgiving is about
sharing.

Most importantly, please share one of your favorite or memorable recipes for Thanksgiving!

I'll share three!

Shrimp Casserole

8 slices slightly dry bread, trimmed
buttered, and cubed

2 cups shelled boiled shrimp (remove tails)

1 (3 oz.) can sliced mushrooms boiled and
drained

½ lb. sharp process shredded American
cheese

3 eggs

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. dry mustard

1 dash pepper

1 dash paprika

2 c. milk

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place ½ of bread cubes in
greased11 x 7x11 ½ baking dish. Add shrimp, mushrooms, and ½
of cheese. Top with remaining bread and cheese. Beat together eggs and seasonings. Add milk. Pour over top of bread and cheese.Bake in oven for 45-50 minutes or until
just set. May be refrigerated before baking.

Ruby’s Pecan Pie

3eggs

1 cup light brown sugar

½ tsp. salt

2Tb. melted butter, browned

1 ¼ c. pecans, toasted

1 c. light corn syrup

1 tsp. vanilla

¼ tsp. white vinegar

1 unbaked 9” pie shell

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat eggs,
sugar, vanilla, salt, and vinegar. Add cooled browned butter, syrup, then mix
in pecans. Add to pie shell. Bake 45 minutes in pie shell. Cover edge of pie crust
with foil until last 15 minutes. By browning the butter and toasting the pecans
you get a really great pie.

Boil or steam asparagus until tender
crisp. Lay two ham slices together. Spread cream cheese on ham slices. Put
asparagus spear on the wide end of ham and roll. Secure with tooth pick or tie
with chives.

These may also be placed in an unbaked
crescent roll. Place on the wide side and roll. Bake in 375 degree
oven about 10 minutes. Great with soup.

Thanks for sharing, Ruby!

Ruby got the writing bug in high school when she won an award from the National Teachers of English, and transfered that love through college into her professional life as a certified registered nurse anesthetist practitioner. She has won short story contests, published in the AANA Journal and has contributed to Hospital Topics and a book on Hospital Management. She currently writes medical suspense.

Monday, November 19, 2012

This week our Greater Ft Worth Writer members are sharing their favorite memories of Thanksgiving. Today is debut author Kimberly Packard, whose first novel releases today: PHOENIX, from GoodMedia Press. She is Vice President of GFW Writers and VP of Communications at North Texas Commission.Welcome, Kim!

What is your favorite childhood memory about Thanksgiving?
Actually, it's not so much a family-related memory as it is of my high school friends. We all ate Thanksgiving at lunch, so mid-afternoon we'd meet in this open field to play what began as touch football, but usually ended up as tackle - with the girls being the aggressors. Yeah, girls kick butt.

Do you and your family/friends cook the traditional Thanksgiving turkey, or do they do something different?
We usually do the traditional thing, but rather than cook a turkey my dad would get a fried turkey from a friend of his (did you know that you can't deep fry a frozen turkey? it will explode).

What’s your favorite thing about Thanksgiving and/or Autumn?
There's a smell in the air that is completely unique to Autumn. It's a clean, crisp smell that is filled with a little bit of smoke and spice. It's quieter at Autumn -- I walk the trails in the woods near our house and there's this lovely hush that blankets everything ... that is until my dog starts barking at the squirrels.

What will you be doing for Thanksgiving this year?
Going to my sister's house where we will have a 3 adults per twin ratio ... and sadly we'll still be outnumbered.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Jeff Bacot is a freelance writer of fiction and blogger of unconventional thought. His novel ON THE HOLE was recently published and released and is available on Amazon.com or Barnes and Nobles.com. He is an active member of The Greater Fort Worth Writers group. He is a graduate of Southern Methodist University.

Foreword Reviews gave a glowing review of GFW Writer member (and President Elect) Jeff Bacot's debut novel, On The Hole.
Read the entire review here:

Monday, November 12, 2012

It's our pleasure to welcome Maryann Miller to our blog. Maryann has a long resume of sucess in writing and we are so happy she could find the time to share her knowledge with us.

~~~~

First I want to thank Ruby Johnson for inviting me here
today. What a neat place this is. I have bookmarked the site and will come back.

Even though I now live in East Texas, I spent many years in
Dallas and was a founding member of The Greater Dallas Writer's Association. I
miss those days of meeting with other writers and having the kind of networking
that the Greater Fort Worth Writers' group has.

It's no surprise that I decided
to set most of my books in and around Dallas.

Me and Ed McBain (Evan Hunter)

My interest in police procedural mysteries started when I
discovered the 87th Precinct Series by Ed McBain (Evan Hunter). I was a huge
fan and once followed an impulse to write to him. He wrote the nicest letter
back, and we corresponded a few times after that. I wasn't brave enough then to
tell him I was writing fiction. My bread and butter at that time was in
nonfiction, but I always hoped that by the time I got my first book published I
could contact him again and perhaps get an author blurb.

That wasn't to be. Nor would
there be any more 87th Precinct stories when Evan Hunter died in 2005.

What I learned from Hunter's Books

One thing I learned from reading Hunter's books is the
importance of the little details that set the scene in the police station as
well as at crime scenes, as well as the importance of getting those details
right. That is why I visited police stations, rode patrol with officers,
interviewed numerous officers, and had everything I wrote vetted by a seasoned
detective.

Interesting Areas of Research

For Stalking Season,
I also did a lot of other research that included visiting a gentleman's club,
but I think my son, who is my research assistant, enjoyed the visit more than I
did. He took copious notes of how the girls were dancing, just in case I needed
those details for authenticity. (smile)

Open Season, the
first of The Seasons Series, was published in 2010 by Five Star Cengage Gale and
the second book, Stalking Season will
be released this month. The series has been called "Lethal Weapon"
with female leads set in Dallas.

Book Blurb:

In this second book of The Seasons Series,Homicide Detective Sarah Kinsgly and her partner, Angel Johnson are
pitted against another uncanny killer while still struggling to feel like real
partners. Neither wanted the pairing in the first place, and it isn't getting
any better.

A young girl is killed in a cheap motel, and when her identity is
discovered, an influential Dallas businessman brings the heat down on the
department. It isn't easy to work under the thumb of the mayor and the police
commissioner, and it doesn't help that Leiutenant McGregor has his own issues
with the brass.

The investigation takes the detectives inside an exclusive gentleman's club,
a prestigious private school, and leads to a killer that surprises them all.

Excerpt:

Sarah stepped closer and tried to
look dispassionately at the body of a young woman that was covered to her chin
with a faded bedspread. It could have been a child lovingly tucked in by a
parent, except for the russet stain of dried blood on her forehead.

“What do you make of that?” Sarah pointed to the odd marking.

“Some kind of symbol?” Rusty shrugged. “Pretty weird.”

“I’ll say.”

The girl might have been attractive once, but death’s pallor was too stark
against the dark puddle circling her neck and cradling her head. A sour odor of
long-dead blood mingled with the distinct stench of feces and urine. Pressing a
finger against her nose, Sarah fought the wrench of her stomach as she turned
back to the officer. “Any ID?”

“Nothing in her purse. She was registered as Tracy Smith. But the manager
said he doesn’t know her.”

“I bet half the guests here are named Smith.” Sarah forced her gaze back to
the victim. She was young. Maybe eighteen, tops. And so innocent looking, with
slim, smooth hands folded over her chest.

Sarah pulled latex gloves on and bent closer to the dead girl’s hands,
lifting one finger. “She definitely wasn’t a two-bit whore. Not if she could
afford to have her nails done like this.”

“ . . . gripping second mystery featuring Dallas, Tex.,
police detectives Sarah Kingsly and Angel Johnson. . . . The relationship
between the women is just as absorbing as the search for the killer. Few
readers will anticipate the closing twist.”— STARRED Publishers Weekly Review

Purchase her books from Amazon.com and any other bookseller.Her publisher markets heavily to libraries, so you can also request Stalking Season at your local library. Anyone who wishes to purchase a signed copy directly from Maryann, or any of her other books in paperback, can contact her at maryann @maryannwrites.com

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Attracting new fans. Admit it, that's what having a book published is all about -- getting more people to read your words, know about you and buy your books. And hopefully, getting a LOT more people to do those things.

Why else do you work so hard to craft chapters, paragraphs, sentences -- even individual word choices? For what other reason do you fight off sleep so you can finish just one more section before you call it a night? I don't believe you go through these things to amuse yourself and hone your grammar skills in obscurity. You work hard because you know you have something of value to offer and you want to reach as many people as possible with your ideas.

Marketing is the thing that helps you reach that goal. But marketing is also a subject that confuses a lot of writers. Whether they write fiction or nonfiction, are self-published or traditionally published, writers the world over know they need to promote themselves. But many don't know where to start, much less how to continue marketing effectively.

Does this describe you? If so, consider the following scenario:

Let's say you went to an average U.S. city and rounded up 1,000 people and gathered them in a giant VFW hall. These 1,000 folks would be randomly chosen and made up of people of all ages, genders and backgrounds. Next, you'd distribute information about your book, talk to these people and even let them read sample chapters.

After this direct exposure, what are the chances that one person out of those thousand would be attracted to your ideas and personal identity enough to buy your book? Most writers, regardless of how obscure their subject matter is, should feel pretty confident about being able to win over at least one new fan from this group of 1,000. That's a one-tenth of one percent conversion rate.

Now let's multiply that reasonable formula by the entire U.S. population of 285 million people. One-tenth of one percent would be 285,000 people. That would be enough fans to make you a bonafide bestselling author. Right?

So how do you find and connect with those one-in-a-thousand buyers (without the use of VFW halls across the country)? Most likely, you can't afford the massive advertising budget of major companies. These corporations spray their marketing message over the masses, knowing that it'll only stick to a small percentage of the population.

The solution: You must find creative, low-cost ways to go directly to those fans who make up that one-tenth of one percent. Don't waste your time and money promoting yourself to people who will most likely never embrace your words.

Here are four steps to take to reach those new fans:

1. Define Your Distinct Identity

You must have a firm grasp on what your writing (or latest book) is about. And you must be able to define it clearly and quickly. What sets your book apart from others in its genre? What attitude or social statement do you (or your book) make? Generic self-help, romance or science fiction titles won't cut it. Dig deeper and discover your unique identity. When you do finally reach some of those rare potential fans, don't lose them by not being clear about who you are.

2. Describe Your Ideal Fan

Once you have a handle on who you are as a writer, it's time to paint a clear picture of your ideal fan. Can you articulate how your readers dress, where they work, what TV shows they watch, what they do for fun and who their favorite cultural heroes are? Observe the types of people who come to your public speaking engagements or readings, and note what they have in common? Conduct simple online surveys with people who visit your web site or subscribe to your e-zine. Knowing precisely who your fans are will dictate what avenues you use to reach them and how you communicate your message once you do reach them.

3. Determine How to Get Access to Your Ideal Fans

Once you know exactly what type of fan you're going after, start making a list of the various resources these specific people are attracted to. What magazines and newspapers do they read? Where do they hang out? What radio stations do they listen to? What retail outlets do they frequent? What web sites do they surf to? What e-mail newsletters do they subscribe to? For example, if your fans are mostly Harley riders, go to a search engine like Google and start entering keywords related to motorcycles. Evaluate the search results and compile a list of the many good sources you uncover.

4. Network and Promote Yourself and Your Book

Armed with this targeted list of contacts, get busy! Send e-mail press releases to niche media outlets. Contact the webmasters and editors of appropriate publications. Post messages in specialized forums. Visit and interact via the web sites of similar authors or reading groups. Contact organizations and charities related to your writing niche.

In short, go to where your ideal fans are. And market yourself through these outlets relentlessly. Why spend too much time and money trying to promote to everyone ... when you can save money and be far more effective by going directly to those valuable one-in-a-thousand fans?

Bob Baker is the author of "Unleash the Artist Within," "Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook" and "Branding Yourself Online." Get a FREE subscription to Bob's newsletter, "Quick Tips for Creative People," featuring inspiration and low-cost self-promotion ideas for artists, writers, performers and more. Visit PromoteYourCreativity.com for details.

Monday, November 5, 2012

By Heidi M. ThomasIf you find this post helpful kindly leave a comment below.We’re all afraid of something.

That fear can shape who we are and can create jeopardy in our lives. We’ve all been to the dentist, right? For some, just the word could make you break into a cold sweat. Maybe you’re afraid of the pain, or the buzzing sound of the drill. But most realize that the fear and anticipation of that dental visit is worse than the actual procedure.

Fear of the unknown is a similar situation. For example, both my husband and my sister-in-law recently underwent chemo. We were all nervous about what to expect. What would it feel like? Would they immediately get sick? What would their reactions and side effects be? Our imagination can conjure up all kinds of “what-ifs”. But, usually, once you’ve experienced it, you know what to expect the next time, and it’s not as scary as it was before.

Use that fear and anticipation to build suspense in your writing. Suspense is about anticipation. It is about what we do not have, what has nothappened, about what might happen. It’s about the process of watching events unfold. (i.e.While the victim is being stalked, suspense looms. Once the victim is murdered, the suspense disappears.) Waiting to find out builds suspense and drama.

Fear may be something our character needs to overcome, her internal conflict in the story. That takes us on her journey of development, how she reacts to her fear, how she deals with it, how she wins over it in the end or is changed by it.

As an author, you can use your fear to drive your character (and maybe overcome your own in the process).

~~~

A native Montanan, Heidi M.Thomas now lives in Northwest Washington. Her first novel, Cowgirl Dreams, is
based on her grandmother, and the sequel, Follow the Dream, has recently won
the national WILLA Award. Heidi has a degree in journalism, a certificate in
fiction writing and is a member of Northwest Independent Editors Guild. She teaches
writing and edits, blogs, and is working on the next books in her “Dare to
Dream” series. This post originally appeared on The Blood Red Pencil Blog.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Juliet may have been trying to soothe her lover's concerns over their
warring families, but I completely disagree with her notion that a name is a meaningless
convention. One of the greatest gifts - or curses - a parent can bestow upon
their child is their name. The same is true for fictional people.

Sure, Buffy works if you're a
vampire slayer, but would a brain surgeon named Buffy be taken seriously? Or,
would Severus Snape be nearly as slimy if J.K. Rowling named him Ben Thomas?
Should writers stress over a character's name, or just pluck something from a
baby name book and move on? Maybe both.

When I started my first round of edits for Phoenix years ago, there was
something about the main character that really bothered me. She felt
directionless, meek, and quite frankly, was not my favorite character in the
book.

To remedy this, I "interviewed" her ... I also call this
"talking to the voices in my head." During this interview, I asked
her what she wanted more than anything in the world.

Her answer: to be loved.

I hopped on BabyNames.com, did a search and found the name Amanda meant
"worthy of love." That was the day Amanda Martin was born. The name
also worked perfectly for the alter-ego with her going by her childhood
nickname, Mandy.

The other characters in the book came to me pretty easily. Shiloh, a wounded
young woman who has dealt with loss her whole life, came fully formed and her
name means His Gift. (Maybe she was my gift as she is probably a character I
have more in common with than the others). Amanda's love interest, David's name
means "beloved." Her criminal ex-boyfriend's name Josh means
"God is salvation." Um, yeah-no, but I couldn't find a name that
meant "lying thief." Alex, the SEC agent chasing Amanda, was likely
named Alexander by his Greek parents, a name that means "Defender of the
People," and quite fitting for his role in the story.

For the times when names are hard to come by, there's this great site. This random name generator
gave me the name of a character in the follow up to Phoenix, Pardon Falls,
Eldridge "El" Calchera. The minute that name flashed in front of my
eyes the character solidly formed in my mind.

But should we strive for names that fit our characters, or names that will
find a place in history? Nabokov's double named Humbert Humbert is immediately
cast in our minds as a creep, and what of his sexually-charged, yet youthful
Lolita nickname for his stepdaughter. Are the names what stand out, or the
characters?

Is it a literary chicken and the egg? Does a memorable name make for
a memorable character, or should the character of Severus Snape stand on his
own, even if his name was Ben?

~~~

About Kimberly Packard

Kimberly Packard likes to say she makes up stuff. That stuff has resulted in the completion of two novels. Her debut novel, PHOENIX, is being released on November 19th.

In her day job she specializes in media relations, branding and strategic planning, crisis communications, program development and pretty much anything else that gets tossed her way. She serves as vice-president of Greater Fort Worth Writers.